The most famous bird strike in America occurred 10 years ago, when Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger landed a passenger jet in New York’s Hudson River after Canada geese disabled both engines. His skill and experience saved all 155 people on board. In fact, the infamous bird strike was captured in “Sully,” a 2016 movie starring Tom Hanks.

But it was one of the inventors of the airplane, Orville Wright, who reportedly experienced the first bird strike on record. In 1905, his plane collided with a bird while flying over an Ohio cornfield, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Although birds have been a problem since the beginning of aviation, pest management professionals (PMPs) are employing new tools to help keep pilots and passengers safe. Certainly, PMPs cannot scare off every bird in the sky, but they can help reduce their numbers in and around airports.

This month’s cover story, Bird control: Cash in while protecting planes, passengers, highlights the dangers of birds at airports. Learn how PMPs can help ensure safety by deploying proven bird management tools. Delivering bird control at these facilities offers a rewarding opportunity to protect the public. After all, the number of planes in the sky each year is staggering. In 2017, the FAA reported more than 15 million flights. PMPs can help make airports safer for all.